Ghent suits are settled

By Michelle James
Register-Herald Reporter

July 25, 2008 11:18 pm

— Greg Darby, president of Little General Stores Inc., confirmed Friday a settlement had been reached with the survivors and the families of the victims of the Jan. 30, 2007, explosion at the Little General Store in Ghent.
Darby said he could not elaborate on the terms of the settlement.
According to Raleigh County deputy circuit clerk Paul Flanagan, no paperwork had been filed in the clerk’s office at the close of business Friday.
Seven lawsuits were filed on behalf of 17 plaintiffs in Raleigh County Circuit Court following the propane explosion that killed four people and critically injured five others. The first of the suits was scheduled to go to trial March 30, 2009, before Circuit Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick.
Plaintiffs who specified damages were seeking a total of $120 million.
Defendants included Little General, Godfather’s Pizza, BP America, Appalachian Heating, Thompson Gas Propane Partners, Ferrell Gas, RegO Claimants Trust and Trinity Industries.